The Civil 20 Summit on Education & Digital Transformation has been inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram with several dignitaries from India and abroad in attendance. Across two days, hundreds of delegates from civil society organisations (CSOs), experts, and stakeholders identified the most pressing challenges facing education and the evolution of digital access. Their work will feed into innovative solutions and best practices that directly shape the policy recommendations to be launched at India's Civil 20 (C20) Summit in Jaipur in July.
Excerpts from Amma's message
Humanity is facing many extraordinary challenges. Today, human beings need two qualities: the wisdom to recognise the problem and the mental attitude and intelligence to correct it. Everyone who lives in this world must obey the universal law of inclusion. If we try to forcefully impose laws of exclusion, it will only result in disharmony and danger.
— Amma
Speaking in her video address as Chair of C20, Amma continued: "The 'new' should never be allowed to trample on the 'old'. New discoveries can also mean unique, new hazards. Before such discoveries become a permanent headache to society, we need to find solutions to their potential negative repercussions." She also raised concern about the mental health of children after the COVID pandemic: "What they have is the beginning of a depression and anxiety disorder that results from smartphone overuse. If we catch it at the beginning and offer timely counselling, it can be prevented from deepening into a psychological problem."
Excerpts from Swami Amritaswarupananda's message
Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri emphasised Amma's teaching that the main purpose of education is to impart a culture of the heart. "It is true that our students are passing their exams with flying colors, and we are creating brilliant scientists and engineers. But what does our education system do to instill a culture of the heart in our students?" he said. "Our education system needs a total revamp so that it can create more compassionate people, more who express love than hate. We need more people who look at the world with wonder, who would fall in love with nature."
